Process Recording is a way to identify patterns in student and patient communication. It is not an intake assessment nor question and answer session but a time to listen and demonstrate caring concern, and a time to recognize and identify a patient’s emerging feelings. Process Recording is a written record of a segment of the nurse-patient conversation that reflects as closely as possible the verbal, non-verbal, coping, and defense mechanisms utilized during the interaction. Process Recording has some disadvantages because it relies on memory and is subject to distortions, however, it can be a useful tool for identifying communication patterns. The purpose of the conversation is to give an opportunity to identify and practice communication strategies correctly. Note that the goal is not to solve the patient’s problems but to explore and use interactive therapeutic communication.
The student selects goals prior to the interactions that are realistic and measurable. Topics include such areas as behavioral issues (triggers like getting angry when called or made to feel “stupid”), replacing negative with positive coping mechanisms (reframing), identification of feelings (hungry, angry, lonely, tired, happy, etc.), plans for discharge, presence/absence delusions/hallucinations, etc. Therapeutic Communication demonstrates the use of mostly broad open-ended questions, clarification, confronting, reflecting, empathy, immediacy, focusing, etc. Identify the techniques used with rationales for use, and the effect of these techniques. Read and follow guidelines (template and rubric) and chapters on therapeutic communication. Is the patient able to answer? Are responses congruent with your statements?
Instructions:
Select a patient to participate. Do not use a “script” for this interaction. Listen and respond to the patient without taking notes. Taking notes is distracting for both the student and the patient and the patient may resent or misunderstand the student’s intent or feel like a project. Write out and analyze a segment of the nurse-patient interaction using quotation marks around what both you and the patient said. Identify non- verbal actions such as body position changes, mood/affect changes, or conversation factors (looking down when discussing an uncomfortable subject). Describe the environmental setting where the interaction took place – did they contribute to a therapeutic (ease of conversation) or non-therapeutic setting (too cold, smoky, etc.). The interpretation sections will be completed later because these sections take time and
reflection. Utilize textbook or Kaplan Content Library for communication and defense/coping strategies.
The selected interaction is based upon the parts of the conversation most meaningful or therapeutic. Allow the interaction to flow, documented so that the instructor can easily follow the content. As soon as the interaction is completed, thank the patient and excuse yourself. Begin to write the conversation verbatim (word for word) to the best of your recollection. Document both parties’ non-verbal behaviors. During documentation, insert information about any discontinuity, i.e., “patient needed to get ready for group therapy;” “patient left to use the bathroom;” or “we agreed to meet up directly after group.” If the student continues a conversation later and wishes to include parts of both conversations, identify the change or time lapse. (Always account for how an interaction ended when it is unplanned and abrupt, i.e., “patient stood up and said he didn’t want to talk about this anymore.”)
Steps:
Complete the patient demographic information and the environmental setting. (Was the setting conducive to talking?). In the patient description section, the patient should be described in such a way that no one can identify him or her (first and last initials only). Never use patient’s name in your papers.
Include grooming, affect, posture, and mood.
Quote both sides of the conversation and the non-verbal information. Verbal communication is
concerned with the spoken word, including inflection and tone of voice. Non-verbal
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communication is concerned with gestures, body movements, posture and other unspoken forms of
relaying ideas and feelings.
Identify student thoughts and feelings during the interaction. For example, “I was feeling nervous
and scared. He had attempted suicide and I didn’t know if what I said would hurt him.” Focus on
what is happening to you and the patient that has communication value.
The rest of the template will be completed later with time to analyze. Once all columns are
complete, the student will have gained insight needed to look back and decide if the technique was therapeutic or non-therapeutic. If the patient responded favorably, yet a non-therapeutic statement was used such as closed statements (“why did you do that?”), document what could have been said that was more therapeutic. For example, I could have said, “Tell me more about what happened.”
The ability to look back and analyze conversation errors/ non-therapeutic responses is as valuable as providing therapeutic responses during the conversation and can provide insight into what is customarily used in your conversations.
Complete the type of communication techniques used, define, and identify whether therapeutic or non-therapeutic. (Therapeutic communication is defined as a face-to-face process of interacting, focusing on advancing the patient’s physical and emotional well-being, and is used to support or inform.)
Evaluate the effectiveness of this interaction.
Did the patient initiate the conversation or did you?
Did you or the patient change the subject due to discomfort with the topic (like self-harm
or abuse)? Did the patient answer you, look away, or hesitate?
Were only meaningless/social topics discussed (football teams, music, food, etc.)? Did you
use closed communications, and if so, was it because the patient was not cognitively communicative (Alzheimer, stroke, or dementia patient)? What communication techniques were used the most?
Is there congruence between the verbal and nonverbal communications?
Interpret behaviors. These relate to the perception of meaning behind the words.
Identify feelings involved. When possible, document the reasoning behind the feelings.
Identify and evaluate themes and strategies.
What did the communication mean to you and the patient? If you were to redo this
interaction, what would you change?
assignments are typed. Extra pages/rows may be added as needed for the conversation.
9. These
Include a reference page in APA form
